Donbass War

The Ukrainian Civil War began shortly after the Euromaidan events in 2013—14 which saw the government of Ukraine overthrown by protestors and a coalition of opposition parties. A new radically anti-Russian government was established which sparked protests in the eastern regions of the country. Insurgents seized control of administration buildings in Donetsk, Luhansk, and other towns, proclaiming the creation of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics. President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine began a military operation against what he claimed were "terrorists."

Since then, the Ukrainian Armed Forces recaptured parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions but failed to militarily defeat the separatists. The Ukrainian government and its Western allies, including the United States, made claims that Russian military forces are fighting against Ukraine. Ukrainian officials periodically state that the conflict is a "Russian invasion" due to the pro-Russian nature of the separatists. Claims ranged to as much as 40,000 Russian troops, along with armor and artillery elements, are in eastern Ukraine, though all of the evidence presented to back up the claim is dubious at best. The Russian government denies the allegations.